|
Do I need any previous experience?
No, not necessarily, though it helps if you are not frightened of, or allergic to horses.
Do I have to be able to ride?
No, there is no circumstance when you would be called on to ride a horse. There are many Fence Judges who have never ridden.
Do I need any special equipment?
No, all the specialist equipment (score books, clip board, stop watch, whistle, flags and radios and a copy of the British Eventing leaflet ‘Instructions to Fence Judges’) are supplied by the Event Organiser. You might like to supply your own pens to fill in the score book and maybe whistle. The Instructions to Fence Judges’ leaflet advises you to bring a sharp penknife and a rake but these are not essential. You may also find it useful to have a hammer, some nails and some string.
Other things that might make your day more enjoyable are some folding chairs and maybe a table for the equipment. It is a good idea to remember to put some wellington boots in your car - you never know - you might be judging the water jump!
Can I bring my dogs?
Unless there is a specific request from the landowner to the contrary then well behaved dogs are always welcome. For obvious reasons they must be kept on a lead all the time. If you are in doubt as to whether you may bring your dog, then contact the Fence Judge organiser.
Can I bring my children?
If you would like to you certainly can, though due to the length of time you will be judging, it is not an ideal day out for young children as they will get bored and restless by having to stay in one place all day. The same reasons apply to children of all ages unless they have more than a passing interest in horses and Eventing. (In which case the conditions for the previous question apply!)
Do I need to bring a picnic?
Almost all Events supply all the Fence Judges with a packed lunch and there is usually a refreshment round in the morning and afternoon. You may like to bring your favourite snack or something to nibble on, as the day can be quite long, and if the weather is inclement a flask with a hot drink to warm the inner man (or woman) is a good idea. If you want to bring your own picnic there is no reason why you shouldn’t but consuming alcohol whilst fence judging is frowned upon by the organisers and British Eventing.
If there is no provision for packed lunches at an Event you will be told of this by the Fence Judge Organiser. Likewise it is advisable to tell the Fence Judge Organiser if you have any special dietary requirements; every effort will be made to accommodate these but if they are vital (eg. nut allergy) it would be better to bring your own food.
What happens in bad weather?
If the weather has been consistently wet for some time before the Event British Eventing Officials will inspect the course immediately prior to the Event and if it is considered that the state of the ‘going’ is sufficiently bad to present a danger to the competitors then the Event will be cancelled. This is extremely rare.
On all other occasions the Event will run come wind, rain, hail or even snow. It is, therefore, very advisable to bring plenty of warm and waterproof clothes. Even the sunniest morning can turn into a bitter afternoon with no warning at all!!
What do I get out of it?
If you enjoy watching fit, athletic horses enjoying themselves at a cross country competition there is no better way to spend a day; you get the opportunity to see as many as three hundred horses jumping the same obstacle and you will soon realise that there are as many as, if not more than, three hundred ways to negotiate that obstacle.
You see riders of many standards, all abilities and both sexes competing against each other on equal terms. Eventing is one of the only sports where men and women compete on a par in the same competition. It is also a sport where the reigning World or Olympic Champion can compete (albeit on a different horse) with someone who is entering their first Event.
On a more material note, many Events recognise the contribution made by the Fence Judges to the overall running of the Event by giving them rewards. These vary from one Event to another, it might be a polo shirt with the logo of the Event, a bottle of wine to take home, a schooling voucher (if suitable) or something else.
In addition, anyone registered on the British Eventing list of Volunteer Helpers will receive an annual mailing from BE, which will include omnibus schedule and a volunteer badge, and information about training days and other items of interest.
To be registered on the British Eventing list of willing volunteers please contact sue@fencejudging.co.uk
|
